Canadian Medical Guide > Anatomy > Nervous System > Peripheral Nervous System > Nerve Endings > Receptors, Sensory > Mechanoreceptors Terms and Definitions




Mechanoreceptors

Medical Definition: Cells specialized to transduce mechanical stimuli and relay that information centrally in the nervous system. Mechanoreceptors include HAIR CELLS, which mediate hearing and balance, and the various somatosensory receptors, often with non-neural accessory structures.
Guide Notes: DF: MECHANORECEPT
Also Called: Krause's End Bulbs,Meissner's Corpuscle,Neurotendinous Spindles,Ruffini's Corpuscles,Stretch Receptors
Previously Indexed: Nerve Endings (1966-1970),Receptors, Sensory (1966-1970)
Mechanoreceptors Categories.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Golgi-Mazzoni Corpuscles - Thin capsules enveloping end nerve fibrils in the subcutaneous tissue of fingers.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Merkel Cells - Modified epidermal cells located in the stratum basale. They are found mostly in areas where sensory perception is acute, such as the fingertips. Merkel cells are closely associated with an expanded terminal bulb of an afferent myelinated nerve fiber. Do not confuse with Merkel's corpuscle which is a combination of a neuron and and epidermal cell.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Muscle Spindles - Mechanoreceptors found between skeletal muscle fibers. Muscle spindles are arranged in parallel with muscle fibers and respond to the passive stretch of the muscle, but cease to discharge if the muscle contracts isotonically, thus signaling muscle length. The muscle spindles are the receptors responsible for the stretch or myotactic reflex (REFLEX, STRETCH).
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Pacinian Corpuscles - Rapidly adapting mechanoreceptors found in subcutaneous tissue beneath both hairy and glabrous skin. Pacinian corpuscles contain an afferent nerve fiber surrounded by a capsule with multiple concentric layers. They have large receptive fields and are most sensitive to high-frequency stimuli, such as vibration.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Pulmonary Stretch Receptors - Stretch receptors found in the bronchi and bronchioles. Pulmonary stretch receptors are sensors for a reflex which stops inspiration. In humans, the reflex is protective and is probably not activated during normal respiration.

Mechanoreceptors Medical Definitions and Terms

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